Harrison Gray Otis
February 10, 1837(1837-02-10) – July 30, 1917 (aged 80)
Harrison Gray Otis
Place of birth	near Marietta, Ohio
Place of death	Los Angeles, California
Resting place	Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	23rd Ohio Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Philippine-American War
Relations	Marian Otis Chandler (daughter) Harry Chandler (son-in-law)
Other work	publisher of the Los Angeles Times

Harrison Gray Otis (February 10, 1837 – July 30, 1917) was the second publisher of the Los Angeles Times.

Born near Marietta, Ohio, he was part of the Republican National Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. He volunteered for the Union army during the American Civil War and fought in William McKinley's regiment, the 23rd Ohio Infantry. After the war, he worked as a publisher before moving to California.

He worked for smaller newspapers before becoming affiliated with the Times. He wrote editorials and local news before buying a half interest in the paper. He then named himself president and editor-in-chief.

Statue of Harrison Gray Otis in MacArthur Park

His home, also known as the Bivouac, was later donated to the County of Los Angeles and became the Otis Art Institute, now called Otis College of Art and Design. The home was later razed to make room for newer buildings.

When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Otis asked his former commander William McKinley, now the commander-in-chief, for an appointment as Assistant Secretary of War. Secretary of War Russell A. Alger did not want the conservative Otis serving under him however. Instead, Otis volunteered for the army once again and was appointed brigadier general of volunteers. He served in the Philippines. He did not see any action against the Spanish, but commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, VIII Corps during the Philippine-American War.

After the war, he returned to his position at the Times. His support for Los Angeles, California, was instrumental in the growth of the city. He was a member of the San Fernando Syndicate, a group of investors who bought land in the San Fernando Valley based on inside knowledge that the Los Angeles aqueduct would soon irrigate it. Otis used the Times to frighten citizens (with news stories of a false drought) to vote for a 1905 bond issue that funded the aqueduct.

His home was one of three buildings that were targeted in the 1910 Los Angeles Times bombing.

Otis was known for his right wing political views, which were reflected in the paper.

He was succeeded as publisher of the Los Angeles Times by Harry Chandler, the husband of his daughter, Marian Otis Chandler.

[edit] See also

American Civil War portal

United States Army portal

[edit] External links

• 1905 Biographical Sketch
• Biography of Harrison Gray Otis
• Harrison Gray Otis Album of California Scenes, ca. 1890-1910, The Bancroft Library